Statement by Mr. Yohei Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Release of Members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) of Myanmar

January 26, 2001

The Government of Japan welcomes the release on January 25 of many NLD members, who had been detained by the Myanmar authorities when they were accompanying Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as she sought to travel outside the capital, as a positive step which promotes confidence building in the dialogue between the Government of Maynmar and the NLD.
The Government of Japan hopes for a further progress of the dialogue between the Government of Myanmar and the NLD, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The dialogue between the Government of Myanmar and the NLD and the release of NLD members were achieved through the initiative of U.N. Special Envoy Razali Ismail. The Government of Japan will continue extending its full support to his further approaches.

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